NEWS FLASH

Friday, June 22, 2012

MINUTES OF THE 21ST MEETING OF THE
POSTAL SPORTS BOARD HELD ON 05.06.2012 AT HYDERABAD UNDER THE CHAIRPERSONSHIP
OF SECRETARY (POSTS)

D.G.
Posts No. 2-10/2012-WL/Sports Dated 18.06.2012.

The meeting started
with introductory remarks of Secretary (Posts). In her address, Secretary
(Posts) apprised of the Postal Sports Board about the sports activities being
organized by the Department as also its budgetary provisions. Shri M. Krishnan,
Secretary General, NFPE and Shri D. Theagarajan, Secretary General, FNPO
thanked the Chairperson for taking follow up action on the decisions taken
during in the wake of 20th Meeting of the Postal Sports Board and
convening the 21st meeting of the Postal Sports Board. Thereafter,
the Chairperson allowed discussions on the agenda items and the following
decisions were taken.

Confirmation of
the minutes of the 20th Meeting of the Postal Sports Board held on 5th
July, 2010.

Confirmation of
the action taken statement on the minutes of the meeting. Thereafter agenda
items of the current meeting were taken up for discussion and the gist of
discussions is as follows.

Agenda items for 21st
Meeting of the Postal Sports Board.

1. Women
Team in Chess event needs to be introduced. The number of women is increasing
due to new recruitment and new entrants are showing interest in this game.

The Board
agreed to the proposal of introducing women team in Chess event subject to the
stipulation that nomination of players will be made on merit and only those
players will be nominated who have the skill of competing at the all India
level. For this purpose it would be desirable to have scrutiny of players by
professionals.

2. All
the players representing circle teams in All India Postal events may be allowed
to travel in AC-III/AC-II Tier class irrespective of their posts as it will be
boost their morale.

The
members of the Postal Sports Board were apprised that the proposal has
financial implications to the tune of Rs. 40 lakhs (approximately) and it may
not be feasible to meet this extra expenditure out of the present budgetary
allocation. The possibility of effecting saving in the overall sports activities,
in order to meet the expenditure on this proposal was also discussed but
without any conclusion. On the suggestion of the staff side, it was agreed to
take up the matter with the Railways for providing concession to the players
travelling by train to participate in All India Postal Meets. The matter will
be reviewed in the light of response received from the Railways.

3. Provision
of economic class Airfare for the winning team.

No comments in view of item No.
2.

4. Holding
of all 14 selected events at Circle/Regional level.

The
proposal was discussed in details could not be agreed to. No action.

5. Enhancement
of TA/DA and Refreshment allowance.

The
members of the Board were explained that in the light of prevailing rate of
TA/DA in case of officials on tour, it may not be possible to revise the
existing rate of daily allowance being paid to the players at the rate of Rs.
150/- per day (Rs. 75/- per day in case local participants) . However the Board
agreed to enhance the rate of refreshment allowance from the existing Rs. 60/-
per day to Rs. 75/- per day even in case of All India Postal Meets so as to
bring it on par with the refreshment allowance being paid in case of National
tournaments.

6. Players
participating in the All India Postal meets who are paid sleeper class fare may
also be paid local conveyance from home to Railway station and back.

The
board agreed to the proposal. The expenditure will be met out of the sports
funds.

7. As
per the current FIFA rules, the strength of the Football team should be 11+7.
Changes may be made in our rules to raise the strength of our circle teams for
All India Postal Meets from the present 11+4 to 11+7(Eighteen).

He Board
agreed to the proposal of raising the strength of Football team to 11+7 in
place of the existing 11+4, so as to bring it in line with the rules being
followed by Football Federation of India.

8. Reallocation
of posts of Sports Development Officer and Sports Coach to the Circles which
send the maximum number of teams for All India Tournaments, as per existing
guidelines.

The
proposal was agreed to in principle. The following decisions were taken in this
regard.

(i) The posts of
Sports Development Officer and Sports Coach will be relocated in a manner that
no Circle will have more than one post.

(ii) The relocation
of posts which are lying unmanned as on date will be done immediately, to
provide relief to the Circles which are actively participating in sports. There
will be no disturbance to the existing incumbents till such time they compete
their normal/extended tenure or retire on superannuation, whichever is earlier.

9. Sanctioning
and filling up the posts of Sports Inspectors in Uttarakhand for proper
handling the sports activities.

The
creation of post of Sports Development Officer did not find favour with the
Postal Sports Board. However the Circle will be asked to entrust the work to a
responsible official, as per existing instructions.

10. Increase
in the number of players in Table Tennis Women and Veteran (Men) Teams to 4 and
2 respectively.

The
Board agreed to increase the number of Table Tennis Women players to 4. However
there will be no change in so far as participation of Vereran (Men) in the
tournament is concerned.

11. Guidelines
or Circle teams to participate in local league matches/tournament.

The members
of the Board were informed that the Department never issued any instructions
which would disallow the team to participate in the local league
matches/tournaments. As per discussions, it was decided to issue suitable
instructions to Heads of Circles.

12. Affiliation
of all Postal Teams in National Federation.

The
Board Members were informed that the Department is not averse to the ides of
affiliation if the Department has really competitive teams. The members of the
Board were also apprised of the inability expressed by Kabaddi Federation to
affiliate the team of Department of Posts. The Board decided to make another
attempt with the Kabaddi Federation of India. It was also decided to try to get
the Volleyball teams affiliated to the National Federation.

13. Arranging
for practice matches during the coaching camp before start of the All India
Postal meets.

The item
was agreed to; to the extent it is possible and practicable.

14. Grant
of practice time for the players and treating the period of tournament/coaching
camp etc. as duty.

The
members of the Board were informed that instructions of the Department of Posts
were based on the general instructions issued by the Department of Personnel
& Training (DOPT) which is the nodal department in this regard. It was
decided to reiterate the standing instructions on the subject.

15. Nominations
of NIS Coaches duly approved by Sports Authority of India to be sent with
Postal teams participating in national tournaments and All India Postal meets.

The
proposal was agreed to in principle.

16. Revision
of rate of increment for showing excellence in sports.

The
Board was informed that the new rate of increment in the wake of implementation
of recommendations of 6th Central Pay Commission, in regard to
persons showing excellence in sports have yet to be issued by the DOPT.
Necessary action will be taken immediately after the instructions have been
issued by the DOPT.

17. Players
should be sent for participation in all State/National sports events so that
they can improve their skill and bring laurels to the Department.

The
Board was informed that the Department is quite liberal in sending players for
participation in States/National sports events, provided the proposal is
received in time and the Department has a team which can be nominated for
participation at that level.

18. Extend
the tenure period of Sports Development Officer and Sports Coaches to 6 years
instead of existing 3 years.

It was
decided to examine the proposal in the light of existing instructions of
DoP&T and take a final view with the approval of Chairperson Postal Sports
Board.

18(ii) The
official recruited under the sports quota should be exempted from deputation
and tenure transfer as it adversely affects the performance of the players.

.The
proposal was not agreed to. However, the Board was apprised of the instructions
issued by the Department in the matter of giving due opportunity to the players
recruited under sports quota so as to improve their performance.

19. Outstanding sports persons recruited
against sports quota in different circles may be allowed to undergo their
training locally instead of at Postal Training Centre.

The
Chairperson explained that the officials appointed against sports quota
basically belong to Department of Posts and it is the responsibility of the
Department to make their work foundation strong. It is in this background that
training in the Postal Training Centre is imparted for all, including sports
persons.

20. Recruitment
of sports quota so as to enable the Circle to form its own team.

The above item was taken up with
particular reference to the Circles which are small and where the recruitment under sports quota does not enable them to form
its own team. In this context, the possibility of clubbing the Circle with some
other Circle for the purpose in participation in All India Postal sports meet
was discussed. The Chairperson decided to deal with the issue and issue
suitable instructions at the Department level.

21. Provision
of sports club, gym, common room in all the Circles.

Members of the
Board were advised to teke up the matter at the Circle level.

22. Provision
of auditorium in the vacant land of Postal colonies.

The item did
not find favour with the vacant land Sports Board.

23. Provision
of medical facilities to players during plays/practice.

The proposal
was agreed to. Suitable instructions will be issued to all concerned.

24. Increase
in Kit allowance for All India Postal Tournaments.

It was agreed
to increase the Kit allowance in case of players participating in the National
Tournaments from the existing Rs. 750/- to Rs. 1500/-.

The
proposal is to give preference to international players of the particular
discipline in the matter of nomination of coaches and was agreed to.

27.(a) Rolling Trophies.

In the
interest of uniformity the proposal is that in case of All India tournaments
Trophies may be supplied by the Directorate.

The Board did
not approve the proposal.

27(b) Institution
of Rolling Trophies for the Winners and Runner up teams instead of shields, in
all India Postal Tournaments.

The
proposal was agreed to.

28. Promotion
of GDS to Group ‘D’ and ‘C’.

The
members of the Board were informed that there was no provision for promotion of
GDSs to Group ‘D’ and ‘C’ under sports
quota, GDSs have to compete with the outsiders in the form of open competition.

29. Formation
of India Post Team in disciplines like Volleyball, Hockey, Football and Carrom.

This
will be examined keeping in view the strength of the players working in various
Circles in the Department of Posts. For this purpose, required input will be
asked for from the Circles.

30. Recruitment
under sports quota in the discipline of Hockey and Football.

The
Board felt that in the matter of recruitment under sports quota in various
disciplines, it is for the Circles to take a final view.

The
Board decided to grant Kit Allowance of Rs. 500/- to the artists participating
in the cultural events. This allowance is to meet expenditure on costumes etc.which
the artists are required to wear during performance.

33. Grant
of prize money to players and artists securing first, second and third
positions in the Postal meets.

The
Board opined that the issue falls within the purview of Circles and may be
taken up at that level. However, there is no scope to release any grant for the
purpose, out of the Central Sports Fund.

34. Treat
the players as on duty for participation in All India Postal Tournaments as
well as in camp.

The proposal
was agreed to as it is as per existing instructions issued by the DOP&T.

35. Uniformity
in awarding prizes to the winners/runners of All India Events.

The subject
matter falls within the purview of Circle office and, therefore, the Board
decided not to intervene in the matter.

36. Action may be taken for filling up of the
vacant post of Sports Coach/Sports Inspector in Odisha Circle.

Necessary
action will be taken in the light of action that becomes due in regard to the
proposal at serial number 8.

37. Funds
under Sports head may be allotted much earlier for proper utilization of money
in time.

Members
of the Board were informed that any delay in allotment of funds occurs due to
late receipt of audited accounts of previous year from the Circles, which is
mandatory for release of funds for the subsequent year. In order to avoid
hardship to the Circles which send the audited accounts in time, it has been
decided to process their cases in the first phase so as to release funds to
these Circles by mid July. The issue of release of funds to Circles which are
late in submission of audit accounts will be taken up separately.

38. All
teams irrespective of events may be allowed to participate in All India
Tournament/Meet without fail.

The
proposal did not find favour with the Members of the Board as it is very
important that the team participating in the All India event has adequate level
of performance.

39. The
Circles organizing All India Meet may also make arrangements for site-seeing
and get-together program.

Does not
merit any consideration. However get-together programme is generally there. No
further action is required.

40. Instructions
may be reiterated to the Circles to ensure that good accommodation as per the
guidelines circulated by Directorate is provided for Manager/Coach and teams
during the All India events, with special attention to the safety of women,
children participants.

It was decided
to reiterate the instructions.

41. Circulation
of booklet of guideline and update ruling in c/w All India Postal Tournaments
/events.

Needful has been done. The
participants were supplied copy of the compendium containing guidelines of
welfare and sports.

42. Streamline
of Sports Quota vacancies. Request for circulation of guidelines for filling up
of sports quota vacancies.

The
instructions are available on DOP&T website www.persmin.nic.in.
No further action is required.

43. The
strength of the shuttle team is at present only 4. Now the Veterans doubles are
conducted by forming teams from different circles. In order to enable better
team participation in singles and doubles the strength of the team be increased
to 5 members with provision for two Veterans.

The proposal
did not find favour with the Members of the Board.

44. ‘Mohiniattam’
a dance form for Kerala may also be included in the all India Cultural meet in
future.

The proposal
did not find favour with the Members of the Board, as no State is having more
than one Dance form in All India Postal Cultural Meets.

45. The
national records with Departmental records and current achievements of sports
events may be consolidated at National level and circulated with an intention
that it reaches every sportsman and sports lover at grass root level. This will
help our sportspersons for self assessment and become more aware of their
position and to strive harder to scale up.

The Members of
the Board were informed that the Departmental records will be circulated and
will also be displayed on the Department’s web-site. National records may be
seen on the inter net.

46. Provision
of 15 days coaching camps and 2 hours daily off to be strictly observed so that
players get adequate time for practice.

The Board was
apprised that instructions regarding 2 hours off to players who actually
practice are issued from time to time and the last reiteration of the instructions
was done on 25.07.2011. The Chairperson directed to reiterate the instructions was
done on 25.07.2011. The Chairperson directed to reiterate the instructions once
more. As regards 15 days coaching time, the Board was informed that this item
was earlier considered in 2008 and it was decided to maintain the coaching
period of 7 days for participation in the National Tournaments.

47. Appointments
under Sports Quota.

Issue of suitable
instructions to the Circles to have field trials for making appointment against
sports quota.

The Board was
informed that the existing instructions on the subject issued by the DOPT are
silent on the subject of conducting trials, though the instructions issued by
Indian Audit and Accounts Department provide for it. It was decided to have
detailed examination of the matter before taking a final view.